Live Test Match Blog: Eng v SA Day Four

South Africa have their backs against the wall after Michael Vaughan enforced the follow-on. The sun is shining at Lord's and England's bowlers have their tails up. Ed Hawkins is watching it all and reporting on all the action from the price on the draw to the best cakes to go with his afternoon cup of tea.... 18.31 SA 242-2 CLOSE Turgid stuff here at HQ today. And it is a depressing thought that there is likely to be similar fare on offer tomorrow. England's body language is reminiscent of stalemates past against Sri Lanka and Pakistan when they looked tired and shorn of ideas. It is difficult to suggest what they can do to take the remaining nine South Africa wickets given that the new ball did not bring the clatter of victims that they had hoped. With the obdurate pair of NeilMcKenzie and Hashim Amla to remove and Jacques Kallis still to come, they are well aware there is an enormous amount of work to do, particularly with South Africa only 104 behind. The load is heavy enough to suggest that weary minds and bodies may not be capable of taking it on. So the prices are: England [5.7], the draw [1.21] and South Africa a rather pointless [130.00]. 18.10 SA 234-1 The obsessive compulsive Neil McKenzie has a century. I hope that means his poor wife is allowed to go for a walk around. McKenzie celebrated his century in a gentlemanly way, which was refreshing. He eschewed the modern trend to pump his fist, shout, leap around and generally behave like a cock for calmly raising his bat to all four corners. England look a desperate side and have been forced to bring on Monty Panesar. So much for relying on seam and swing from the new ball. 18.04 SA 226-1 Bit of breaking news here. A player tested positive for a banned substance during the inaugural IPL tournament. 17.51 SA 219-1 Fascinating (haven't used that word yet today) over from James Anderson to Hashim Amla. He bowled three absolute snorting short balls - one almost cut Amla's throat - before throwing in the obligatory full one to see if the batsman was shy in coming forward. He wasn't. Cue another short ball then. This time Amla gloved one just wide of Ian Bell at short leg. 17.43 SA 215-1 There are 12 overs left tonight and it is difficult not to believe that England will be feeling severely down if they do not have at least two South Africa wickets. The field could be more attacking. A deep square leg is in place for McKenzie at the mo. Surely it would not be taking a chance to move him in to the gully with Pietersen. 17.28 SA 204-1 James Anderson strikes. The new ball has worked, ending Graeme Smith's vigil. The hard red cherry hurried through and Smith was too late on a pull and only succeeded in getting a top edge to his mate Pietersen, running in from the gully. The draw price drifted from [1.24] to [1.37]. Watch England target Hashim Amla with some short stuff. 17.21 SA 200-0 Remember how we were talking about England dropping catches v Sri Lanka in 2006? Well, they've just dropped their first. Tim Ambrose has spilled a chance he should have taken from Graeme Smith off the bowling of Kevin Pietersen no less. Bad timing from Ambrose as England have just taken the new ball and would have had a fresh batsman to use it against. 17.05 SA 192-0 Graeme Smith has his century. It has been a lesson in obduracy and patience, an innings no doubt which our pal Mr Boycott would have enjoyed. Not for the rest of us though. The wicket is so flat that the batsman has time to have a sandwich mid-stroke. Whatever bet you've had, these sort of matches do Test cricket no favours. At a time when the five-day format is under threat it is a disgrace that the 'home of cricket' produces such turgid batsman-friendly surfaces. 16.48 SA 173-0 The body language is not good from the England players. After Stuart Broad kicked the turf following a wide, James Anderson laboured to return the ball to the bowler and six other fielders were standing with hands on hips. Andrew Strauss appears to be direct